The seventh dormitory home to all the working students of Notting Junior Soul Master Academy was lively as ever.When Sanhartha arrived at the wooden door, he could already hear the laughter and bickering from inside.He gently knocked, and the chatter quieted. A dozen curious eyes turned toward him.
"Hello, is this the seventh dormitory?" Sanhartha asked politely.
A boy with a spirited grin stepped forward. His figure was lean, and his eyes carried an unyielding pride."Yeah, it is. You must be the new working student?" he asked.
Sanhartha smiled lightly. "Yes, I just arrived today."
The boy puffed up slightly. "Name's Wang Sheng," he said, summoning his martial soul—a fierce War Tiger that appeared behind him in a flash of yellow light. "I'm the boss of this dormitory. Every new working student has to challenge the boss to earn their place."
Sanhartha blinked, amused. "Ah, so it's like that…" he murmured softly, then replied with a gentle smile. "But I didn't come here to fight over such trivial things. Let's just get along, alright?"
Wang Sheng was taken aback. He stared at the newcomer, then chuckled and nodded. "Fine. You've got guts for refusing, that's rare."
After the brief exchange, Sanhartha went to the nearby market and bought a bedding set. Upon returning, he arranged his spot neatly.Not long after, Teacher Lu Yang entered the dormitory.
"The new working student, step forward," Lu Yang called.Sanhartha stood respectfully. The teacher gave him the schedule and assigned daily tasks.
As a working student, Sanhartha would need to perform chores around the academy in exchange for tuition and lodging.
"Teacher," Sanhartha asked, "if possible, could you assign me to work in the library?"
Lu Yang raised a brow—most students preferred lighter duties—but eventually nodded. "Very well. You'll assist in the library."
That night, Sanhartha sat on his bed, thinking."To learn anything, I must first learn their written characters," he decided.After a short meditation, he fell into a calm sleep.
In the days that followed, Sanhartha immersed himself in his studies. With his sharp memory and discipline, it took only two days for him to recognize most of the characters of this world.Within half a month, he could already read and write fluently enough to study on his own.During his library duties, he often stayed after hours, quietly reading through books of history and soul master theory.
One afternoon, as his assigned work ended, he sat by a wooden table and took out a small, worn letter from his storage pouch. It was the one given to Old Luo—the letter from Mo Fan.
Sanhartha unfolded it carefully and began to read.
"Your father, San Yan, was a twenty-sixth rank Grand Soul Master, his martial soul the Fire Bird.Your mother, Hei Hearth, was an eighteenth rank One-Ring Soul Master, her martial soul the Desire Heart Bead.Both were members of the Starlight Hunters—a ten-member soul hunting group under my leadership.I, Mo Fan, a thirty-fourth rank Soul Elder with the Blazing Lion martial soul, witnessed their end.They perished during a hunt, protecting the team from a berserk soul beast.The pouch you now hold once belonged to them. If fate allows, come find me—I will aid you as best I can.As for your name, I combined your father's and mother's to form Sanhartha."
When he finished reading, Sanhartha sat silently for a long while.The faint warmth of hope in his heart slowly faded away. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"So… they really are gone," he murmured.
He folded the letter carefully and placed it back inside the pouch. His expression steadied—not of despair, but resolve.
"If I cannot rely on the family of my birth," he whispered, "then I will build one myself. A strong family that no tragedy can destroy."
Outside, the evening sun painted the academy golden.Sanhartha's eyes reflected the same color—steady, calm, and quietly burning with determination.